Absence in North Korea

Published: October 16, 1994

TOKYO, Sunday, Oct. 16—
Kim Jong Il did not appear this morning at a ceremony marking the end of the 100-day mourning period for his father, the late North Korean leader Kim Il Sung, according to a television report here. The failure to appear is likely to revive speculation that the younger Mr. Kim is either suffering from health problems or is facing a power struggle to become the nation's next leader.

Observers of North Korea have speculated that Mr. Kim will soon be named president and head of the Workers Party. But Mr. Kim, 52, has not been seen in public since his father's funeral in July.